Ryan Clarke believes Oxford United’s players will get a big lift from the bumper crowd expected at the Kassam Stadium for Bury’s visit today.

After launching two separate free ticket schemes, the club are expecting an attendance which will rival their largest gate of the season, the 7,552 who watched the 2-1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers last month.

United distributed 2,000 tickets to local schoolchildren and their families, while they predict about half the 2,800 season ticket holders will take up the chance to bring a guest for free.

Clarke applauded the attempts at boosting crowd levels and thinks it will help the side as they look to extend a five-game unbeaten run.

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The goalkeeper said: “I think it’s brilliant what they’re trying to do “I know the club are doing a lot of hard work behind the scenes for the fans on the marketing side.

“It can only be positive and something to look forward to.

“That place can really be rocking when everyone is behind us and it’s packed.

“They really can be a 12th man for us, so hopefully they will take advantage of the offers and it will give us that extra boost.

“If you ask any of the lads, the more fans that are watching, the better it feels.”

While United go into the game on their longest run without a defeat this season, Bury arrive in their worst form of the campaign.

A strong start means they are still ten places above their hosts, but the Shakers have lost their last three games in Sky Bet League Two and are five without a win in all competitions.

It is a situation Clarke is hoping United can exploit as they look to turn a run of decent performances into a string of victories.

“Bury had a good start, but are on an up-and-down run at the moment and we’ll just hope to make the most of that, especially at home,” he commented.

“It can only go on for so long with the way that we play before we put a run together.

“I know it’s easy to say and people will turn round and go ‘you can’t keep saying that’, but we still believe as a group and we’re positive it’s going to happen.”

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